The A350F cargo freighter from Airbus completed its maiden flight in Toulouse on Tuesday, September 29, 2026. The aircraft, equipped with special flight test instrumentation and carrying designator MSN700, was airborne from 10:30 to 14:40 CET, flying for 4 hours and 10 minutes and reaching an altitude of 25,000 feet before landing. It is the first of two planned test aircraft for the new freighter type.
Range, payload and emissions according to Airbus
According to Airbus, the A350F features a range of up to 8,700 kilometers and payload capacity of up to 111 tons, enabling deployment on international long-haul routes. The company states that over 70 percent of the freighter consists of advanced materials, reducing maximum takeoff weight by 46 tons compared to competing aircraft. Powered by Rolls-Royce Trent-XWB-97 engines, the aircraft should consume up to 40 percent less fuel and emit less CO2 than competing aircraft with similar payload-range capacity according to Airbus. The company calls it the first new freighter fully meeting current ICAO CO2 emissions standards. The main deck cargo door measures 4.3 meters wide, the largest in the industry according to Airbus, and consists of advanced carbon fiber composite materials.
Lars Wagner, CEO Commercial Aircraft at Airbus, called the maiden flight an important milestone for the A350F and customers worldwide, describing the freighter as a game-changer for air cargo through operational flexibility, fuel efficiency, and range.
Extensive ground testing before maiden flight
Before the maiden flight, Airbus conducted extensive ground testing including simulation of A350F loading using the physical demonstrator "Cargo Zero" in Bremen and testing of fully electric main deck cargo door operation. The company also conducted "virtual maiden flights" in flight simulator, ground vibration tests, anemometry calibration, and smoke detection testing. The ground vibration test, which measures aircraft response to controlled vibrations to validate structural dynamic and aeroelastic models, was completed by Airbus on August 3, 2026. During the maiden flight itself, the crew tested fundamental airworthiness, basic flight characteristics, and the aircraft's basic systems according to Airbus.
The second A350F prototype with designator MSN701 is in advanced final assembly stages according to Airbus and should enter the paint hangar in coming weeks. The first test aircraft's livery came from a public design competition combining two winning concepts based on cargo packaging boxes.
115 orders and up to 59 percent market share
By late August 2026, the A350F had secured 115 orders from 14 disclosed customers and achieved up to 59 percent market share in the large freighter category, according to Airbus. According to Airbus's Global Market Forecast, the worldwide freighter fleet will grow 45 percent through 2044, driven by growing e-commerce and demand for resilient global supply chains. The market will require 2,605 additional freighters over the coming two decades, including 935 newly built aircraft such as the A350F, the forecast projects.
Over nine months until test campaign completion
Independent confirmation of technical specifications and market figures is not available from reviewed sources. The maiden flight marks the beginning of the planned test campaign spanning over nine months according to Airbus, with the second prototype MSN701 to enter the paint hangar in coming weeks.